Earning your education online may seem scary at first, but interaction with your professor and classmates can carry just as much meaning, and provide even more freedom, than most face-to-face interaction.

Online demands the full attention of the entire class, which means that you’re exposed to a more diverse range of conversation than often exists in a face-to-face environment. Self-motivation is key within such a demanding and competitive setting. The online environment forces you to work independently, increases personal accountability, challenges you to think through arguments in detail before putting them in writing and improves your written communication skills in greater ways than many other environments do. These same skills will have a positive impact on your performance in the work place, because so many of the same are required for success at work.

Teaching also takes new form in an online classroom. Academic institutions, the professors, and support staff must find new and enticing methods to reach out to students in order to optimize their online learning experience and maximize their future scholastic and career opportunities.

As an online student, you have virtually instant access to resources and choices that were not available in the past.

Still, if you’re considering online learning (or just starting), it’s not unusual to feel uncertain about this new environment. Here are a few suggestions to help you succeed:

Keep a Calendar

One of the best pieces of advice I received prior to starting my online program was from a woman in WKU Online. Her kind and well-intended words were simple, “keep a calendar of all upcoming assignments for the semester.” I had no idea how important this was. Online courses are dependent on the student’s ability to hold themselves accountable and stay on schedule. It can be tempting to push assignments to the back burner, but that leads to falling behind, which results in frustration and under performance.

Read the Syllabus

Professors craft their syllabi to deliver the information you need to be successful in their course. The syllabus will include information such as how to contact them, class objectives, the schedule, due dates of tests or assignments, books or readings, and grading data.

Check out Campus Resources

WKU offers a great variety of academic support for online learners, including research and writing assistance, career services, webinars and more! Make sure you visit the Student Resource Portal and become familiar with the support available.

Embrace your Anonymity

This is what I was referring to earlier when I said an online environment can provide “even more freedom.” It allows greater participation than could ever be achieved in a face-to-face classroom, simply because of time constraints involved with F2F learning. Plus, online participation means speaking out, answering questions and providing feedback to others in a new way. Believe it or not, not being seen is empowering.

Ask Questions & Take Cues

Professors differ in how much they direct, interact, and engage the class in forums and discussions. Yet the questions they ask are pertinent to course progression and content. If you don’t understand an assignment, ASK. Asking questions is one of the most important things you can do.

If you’re brand new to online learning and unfamiliar with Blackboard, you may find it helpful to visit our Orientation for Online Learners at www.wku.edu/online/orientation. The Orientation provides guest access to Blackboard and resources to help you get started.

Wouldn’t it be awesome to graduate debt-free with a college degree!?!? For most of us, this is more fantasy than reality, especially with the rising costs of a college education. However, there are things you can do right now – as a current student or even before you’re admitted – that can make a huge difference in your student loan debt over the course of your time in school. The obvious things include following a sound budget, working while you’re in school and borrowing only the amount you need to pay your tuition and purchase books (even though most schools offer the maximum and require that you adjust the amount you’re willing to accept). Those things work! They are tried and true, but there is also something else you can do – it’s as simple as filing your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) early.

The ins and outs of the FAFSA

Every college student should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), including those who are still waiting on their letters of acceptance. The FAFSA requires you to answer questions about your income and assets (for dependent students it also requires information about your parents’ income and assets). The answers you provide, along with IRS documentation, will help the federal government determine your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC indicates the amount of money that the government expects you and your parent(s) to be able to pay toward your college education for the upcoming academic year. If your estimated cost of attendance (COA) exceeds your EFC, you may qualify for need-based loans (which are subsidized while you’re in school and have lower interests rates after you graduate) and/or grants to help pay your college bills.

Even if you feel that you do not qualify for need-based assistance or have enough to cover tuition, you should still file the FAFSA. The FAFSA is required in order for you to take a federal school loan of any kind, and it is also required for students who wish to work on campus.

“Filing early is especially important for those who hope to qualify for grants and/or student employment. Grants are awarded to qualifying students on a first-come, first-served basis. When the funds are depleted the level of need is not considered, which means an early application can mean the difference in qualifying for federal college grants such as Pell, FSEOG, and TEACH grant, as well as state grants, such as the KHEAA CAP grant,” said Cindy Troutman, program manager for WKU Online.

You can file your FAFSA as early as January 1 of the year you intend to enter school. For those hoping to get started in Fall 2015 – your FAFSA awaits! You’ll have to repeat the process each year as you pursue your education, but the first application you fill out is the most cumbersome. Below is a list of items you’ll need to complete your application. The more organized you are when you start the process, the more smoothly it will go.

What You’ll Need

Social Security number

Driver’s license (if available)

Your tax forms (don’t worry if they aren’t complete yet—you can use estimated numbers now and adjust them later if needed)

Information about any businesses you or your family own, investment mortgage information, business and farm records, and other investment records

This sounds like a lot, yes! It’s not as bad as it seems, because there is easily accessed help along the way. You can even access a practice worksheet at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The worksheet will allow you to do a practice run, so you can see the process before you officially get started. You can fill the FAFSA out as early as January 1, but anytime in January helps to ensure that you’re among the first group considered for aid.

Steps to Getting Started

Pull the required documents together, which are outlined above.

File your FAFSA online at fafsa.ed.gov (the school code for WKU is 002002)

Speed the processing of your FAFSA by signing the form electronically with a Personal Identification Number (PIN). Follow the steps outlined at fafsa.ed.gov to request a PIN or visit pin.ed.gov – the process is simple. Also, if you’re a dependent student, one parent must register for a PIN as well, since the application will also require a parent’s signature. in order to sign the FAFSA electronically.

What’s Next

Once you file your FAFSA, you’ll receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) that contains your EFC. If you provided a valid e-mail address at the time of your application, you’ll receive your SAR by e-mail. You can also view it online. Your SAR and EFC will be sent to the schools you listed on your FAFSA. These schools will offer you financial aid packages based on the results of your application.

It’s a new year! Let’s get off to a great start this semester by using some tried and true strategies!

# 1- Set Goals and Stick to Them!- Every course is a new beginning.. so have a positive outlook! Carefully look over the syllabus and start breaking down lessons, assignments and projects into smaller, manageable tasks. Creating goals and staying motivated are important skills that anyone can benefit from having. WKU Online will be offering a free webinar regarding goal setting and achieving positive results on Monday, February 2nd. For information on how to register for this webinar, just email us at successonline@wku.edu.

#2- Stay Motivated!- Setting goals and resolutions sound great at the beginning of a new year or in this case a new semester. However, the hard work is staying motivated and making progress! While online courses offer more flexibility, they also require more self discipline! Your course syllabus needs to be the guide you reference often. Make sure you are staying on top of due dates and deadlines!

#3-Put in the Time!- A general rule of thumb for an online course, is to put in three hours a week of studying for every credit hour. If you are attending full time with 12 credit hours, you will be putting in a full week of work, every week!

#4-Be Proactive!- As soon as you are having trouble in a course, contact the instructor, ASAP! The longer you wait to get clarification on unclear material, the further behind you may get.

#5- Be Your Own Resource!- If you are a non-traditional student take pride in your life experiences! Your work experience may also be relevant to some of your course work. If appropriate, share your experiences with classmates via discussion boards. Likewise, you can learn a great deal from your peers as well. The instructor isn’t always the only person with valuable insight !

Hopefully, you will find these tips useful! However, please know that you are not alone on this journey! WKU Online is here to help! We have a Student Resource Portal full of helpful hints as well as a directory of our vast array of student services! Familiarize yourself with all the support you have at your fingertips, just a click away at :http://www.wku.edu/online/srp/ .

WKU’s online bachelor’s degree programs have been ranked second in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

WKU finished in a three-way tie for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs in the rankings released this week. Pennsylvania State University World College was first and WKU tied with Daytona State College and University of Chicago-Illinois.

WKU was also ranked 11th in Graduate Criminal Justice Programs, 35th in Graduate Education Programs, 70th in Graduate Nursing Programs and 84th in Master’s of Business Administration Programs.

“This recognition is a validation of the hard work and dedication of our faculty in developing and teaching online programs at WKU,” Beth Laves, Associate Vice President for Extended Learning & Outreach, said.

The Division of Extended Learning & Outreach (DELO) operates WKU’s online offerings and supports faculty in the development of courses, training, tools and resources to enhance the learning experience and heighten student engagement.

“WKU Online program services staff also provide award-winning student services that play a significant role in making our program stand out,” Dr. Laves said.

She said those services include access to an Online Presentation Coach, Online Writing Center, electronic resources from WKU Libraries, research assistance, a directory of Top Tools for Online Learners, Online Tutoring and Career Services and other services specifically designed for distance learners and free of charge.”

Ten years ago, WKU had 1,262 undergraduate students enrolled in one or more web courses. By fall 2014, online enrollment had quadrupled with 4,949 WKU undergraduates taking at least one web course.

WKU makes 12 bachelor degree programs available online: Sociology, Child Studies, Family Studies, Organizational Leadership, Interdisciplinary Studies, Computer Information Technology, Dental Hygiene, Environmental Health Science, Business Administration, Registered Nursing to Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Systems Management and Technology Management. Students have the opportunity to earn a certificate or degree through more than 80 online program options at the undergraduate and graduate level.

“I am extremely proud of our faculty and our partnership with DELO, which allows us to produce such a great program,” Dr. Douglas Smith, Department Head of Sociology, said.

Dr. Smith teaches in the online master’s in criminology program and said that students in the program are typically adults working in the criminology field looking for a degree to advance their careers. The program began in 2008 and has had 21 graduates and currently has more than 50 students enrolled.

To determine its rankings, U.S. News analyzes data that reflects how an institution’s online bachelor’s programs are being delivered and their effectiveness at awarding affordable degrees in a reasonable amount of time.

“WKU achieved the number 2 ranking based on a high level of student engagement, faculty credentials and training, student services and technology and its peer reputation in distance learning,” Dr. Laves said.

Hello! WKU Online is very excited about our brand new Online Presentation Coaching Center! The Center provides a great opportunity for online learners to polish up on their presentation skills! The Center offers professional critique from faculty from WKU’s Department of Communication. Students can receive help on presentation delivery and structure as well as more technical aspects like recording and uploading videos. This service allows you to practice your presentation and receive valuable advice before submitting the finished product to your instructor! The Online Presentation Coaching Center also encourages alumni to utilize this service! Professionals preparing for a presentation in the workforce or during the interview process can also find this service useful! For more information on the Online Presentation Coaching Center, please review the following link:http://www.wku.edu/online/srp/opc/.

If you have any questions or are interesting in submitting a video for review, feel free to contact WKU Online staff at successonline@wku.edu.

Tis the season for exams, research projects and comps! This can be stressful for all students–I know, for me, I can always think of one more thing (at least) that I could’ve/should’ve done to prepare better, be more thorough, etc. Having a plan, familiarizing yourself with available resources and being able to use the tools available most effectively is critical! This is especially true for those of us who must maximize every second available. This article is dedicated to those three things: planning, resources and effectively using tools.

Proper planning often means the difference between acing an exam/final project and getting a less than desirable grade to add to your transcript. There are some proven methods that you can easily use to help insure that you maximize your time, minimize stress, and achieve the grade you want.

Save your sources! We have all been researching something and thought, “that’s a great article, but not for this paper.” Save it! It will in turn save you so much time later! You can do this by creating a digital library/database of your favorite articles through citeyoulike or iCyte. If decide to do this in a word doc that you can save to your desktop, you may enjoy looking at some examples at https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/614/03/. Just remember, if you’re doing it for personal use, you don’t have to concern yourself with creating a perfect document. The idea is to create a reference tool for yourself that will save you time on future projects.

Don’t wait until the last minute! Work on your project(s) and/or study for your exam(s) in chunks. This may sound idealistic, but it’s actually quite doable, even with all of life’s other obligations. “Time-chunking” may mean that you set your alarm 30 minutes earlier than normal or use your 15 minute break at work to study or find peer reviewed journals for your project. While that doesn’t sound all that appealing on the surface, the rewards reaped are great! You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish! In fact, this strategy is more effective for long-term retention of material!

Take time to breathe, literally!Research has shown that cardio boosts brain power and improves your memory! It also minimizes stress and increases your energy, allowing you to achieve more with less time!

The old adage goes, “you are what you eat” and this carries greater truth than we originally thought. Yes, eating before you sit down to finalize your paper or take your exam is important, but what you eat is also extremely important. You will want to focus on brain-boosting foods and drinks; not brain-blocking. Research suggests that high-carb, high-fiber, slow-digesting foods like oatmeal are best. Learn more about the impact of nutrition on performance at http://www.goodluckexams.com/what-to-eat-before-an-exam/ and http://her.oxfordjournals.org/content/26/6/1086.full.

Practice good time management: It’s no secret that when we procrastinate we feel a great deal of pressure and anxiety. Our performance is negatively impacted anytime we’re pressed for time, whether it’s studying for an exam or finalizing our research paper. Much of the pressure and anxiety that comes with procrastination can be easily avoided with proper planning, organization and realistic expectations. The one strategy that has helped me most as a student/wife/mom/full-time employee/cub scout leader :) is having all of my due dates available at a glance. Each semester I take a few extra minutes to print each syllabus and add due dates to my main calendar. This keeps me on track and helps me keep my school work on the “front burner.”

Where To Get Help

Technical Assistance can be found through WKU’s IT Helpdesk. They are open 7 days a week and provide services online via chat and help request, as well as by phone. Visit www.wku.edu/it/helpdesk.

Research and Library Assistance: WKU Libraries provides an extensive collection of peer reviewed journals, refereed articles, and research guides. They also have subject specific librarians available to assist you with your research topic. Visit www.wku.edu/online/srp and click on the Library Services tab to access these services and more!

Writing Assistance: Are you having difficulty narrowing the topic for your paper? Do you need help improving the organization and flow? The WKU Writing Center will assist you! They will work with you one-on-one through a live or recorded session – whatever best meets your needs. To learn more, visit http://www.wku.edu/online/srp/writing-center.php.

Online Presentation Coaching: If you would like feedback on your virtual presentation, the Online Presentation Coaching Center is here to help! The Center provides a unique opportunity for you to receive feedback on your delivery technique, structure/flow and transitions, along with helpful instructions for Tegrity setup, as well as troubleshooting suggestions. The purpose of the Center is to provide you with a secure location to practice and improve your skills before submitting your final project to your professor.

Career services, counseling, tutoring and a variety of free tools for organization, time management, research, and more are available through the Student Resource Portal at http://www.wku.edu/online/srp/.

As of today, September 19, you are over 1/4 of the way through the fall semester! There are only 11 weeks left until finals week!

Fall break is less that two weeks away (October 2 and 3).

While you may have research projects coming due and midterms are just around the corner, you also have more support than ever before through the Online Writing Center, Online Tutoring and WKU Libraries. See all that is available at www.wku.edu/online/srp.

If you need to change your class schedule, there is still time to drop a class and add a second bi-term. You have until October 15!